Joseph foesheim



(No Model.) J." PORSHEIM.

v CLASP.

No. 603,401. X Patented May a, 1898.

fiilnemJewx- I 17136222???- UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

J OSEPH FORSHEIM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,401, dated May 3,1898. Application filed September 8, 1897. Serial No. 650,901. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that LJosnrH FORSHEIM, of New York, in the county and Stateof New York, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Clasps, ofwhich the following is a specification. r

This invention relates to certain improvements in olasps which are moreparticularly adapted for use in connection with suspenders, garters, andthe like, the object being to provide a clasp which will consist of avery small number of parts so secured together as to do away with thenecessity of soldering or riveting, whereby the cost of manufacturingthe said clasp is materially reduced.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a front or face viewof the clasp with a portion of a suspender or garter strap pa'ssedtherethrough. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection in the plane of the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. at is a reverse orback view of the clasp and strap. Fig. 5 represents the blank whichforms the front plate, the dotted lines indicating where the blank is tobe bent. Fig. 6 is a face view of the front plate. Fig. 7 is a view ofthe blank which formsthe back plate, the dotted lines indicating whereportions of the said blank are to be bent; and Fig. Sis an inside viewof the back plate.

The strap is denoted by A, one,end of which is adapted .to be securedpermanently to the clasp and its other end adapted to be removablyengaged therewith. The'front plate is denoted by B, the back plate by O,and the 1ocking-ro11er, which is adapted to be interposed between thetwo plates, by D.

The back plate 0 is provided with a pair of Wings 0, having inclinededges, as shown. These wings c are provided at their narrow portionswith projecting tongues c, which are adapted to be bent over to securethe front plate permanently tothe back plate.

The front plate B is provided with laterallyextended flaps 'b, whichareadapted to embrace the wings c of the back plate and overlap theouterface of the back plate. The portions of'the flaps b which engagethe wings c are preferably provided with notches b,

which are adapted to receive the tongues 0 when the said tongues arefolded outwardly, thereby insuring a smooth surface upon the oppositesides of the clasp and at the same time securely fastening the frontplate to the back plate.

Because of the inclined edged wings cthe front plate is spaced from theback plate at an inclination thereto, leaving a small opening or slotalong one edge and a wider opening or slot along the other edge for thepassage through the clasp of the free end of the strap A. A stop .0projects inwardly from one of the platesin the present instance the backplatewhich stop partially fills the larger opening through the clasp andretains the roller within the clasp in operative position.

The bending inward of the stop 0 serves to form a loop 0 to which oneend of the strap A may be permanently secured.

The back plate 0 is further provided with a thumb or finger opening orhole 0 there through, whereby the roller may be held at the widerportion of the clasp when it is desired to partially or wholly withdrawthe strap.

The operation of the clasp is as follows: When it is desired to adjustthe strap, it is drawn through the clasp in one direction freely, theroller seeking the wider portion of the clasp, and when force is exertedtending to Withdraw the strap it will roll the roller toward thenarrower portion of the clasp, thereby clamping the strap between thefront plate and the roller. When it is desired to withdraw the strap,the roller is engaged by the thumb or finger of the person and heldagainst movement toward the narrower portion of the clasp, therebypreventing it from looking the strap.

By constructing. the clasp as above described I am enabled to do awaywith the use of solder or rivets, the clasp at the same time beingformed of only three pieces-viz., the front plate, the back plate, andthe roller, the

front and back plates being readily stamped rangement of the severalpartswithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. HenceI do not Wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein shown anddescribed; but

\Vhat I claim is- A clasp comprising a blank forming a back plate havinginclined edged wings bent inwardly therefrom, the said wings beingprovided with securing-tongues and a stop bent inwardly from the blankthereby forming a [0 strap-retaining loop, a second blank forminginterposed between the said plates, substan- 15 tially as set forth.

JOSEPH FORSIIEIM. Vitnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, O. S. SUNDGREN.

